"I really can't thank you enough, director." Val said. "I don't think I would've ever gotten through to them without your help back there."

"Consider it a form of repayment for what you've done for us all this time." Zascent replied. "To be honest, I thought we couldn't pull it off for a second there, but I think my arguments convinced enough of them to edge it out. What helped was that while Alchemist tried his best to defend himself, the fact remained that he let her escape in the first place. With you so eager to be a new guardian for her, the scales tipped in our favor."

"There's also the fact that she didn't cause any damage, so they didn't really have any solid justification to try and go for an execution. I can see why you're working so hard for her." he commented.

"Yeah... She's something else, alright." Val said. "It's not something that you see everyday."

"From when she escaped from that place, to when they tried to capture her..."

"She did not want to hurt anyone."

"As the world shows her nothing but darkness and cruelty..."

"Even if she has to resort to flawed ways..."

"She still strives to pay it back in her own kindness."

"There aren't many that can respond to life like that."

"It is something that must be protected."

"That is why I'm putting everything on the line for her..."

"Those like this one... should have a proper upbringing."



"Of course, because of "Typhoon Moon" glitching up their systems, everything got all twisted up and confusing." Val said, emphasizing the name in a mocking manner.

"There is plausibility to it. Those cyber specialists truly did find no tampering from CALCOR's end. Plus, Typhoon Moon has been a problem in this part of the galaxy for awhile, now. I remember that the Zacarnia Space Scouts database had been attacked a little while ago. And lately, there have been a surge of criminals wielding fleet grade weapons that they should have no business owning." Zascent speculated.

"Still, though, the timing of it, and everything the cyber attack actually affected is something that needs to be addressed. Only a few people in that courtroom want to give it the time of day, though."

"When you called me about it, I was just as confused as you were. As I said earlier, CALCOR never gave me documentation that described the state of any soldiers. He kept insisting on sending you the batch of data himself, which he sent to you after I sent my briefing."

"A "final draft", I was told."

"And when we initially talked and I asked about the others that were sent to get her... looking back at it, he never gave a direct answer. Only that they "failed", in his words."

"That so?" Val asked.

"As I kept pressing the matter, he kept being evasive with me. Being vague and dodging the question, urging me to hurry due to the potential danger she posed." Zascent explained.

"Thanks to those words and the gravity of the situation, I figured it would've been better to get everything handled first before later crossing the bridge of what he was acting so funny about."

"Next thing I know, you're calling me about dead soldiers, and I can't get ahold of CALCOR at all." he said, his eyeball going to the side in thought.

"That being said, the concept of him going through such lengths is also something that throws a wrench into this. For this to be an intentional act, and for Typhoon Moon to be involved, well..."

"I don't entirely know what the whole deal is." Val said. "But if it's true, then I really don't like what it implies."

He'd then grimace, thinking back to the once friendly yet eccentric face that he argued with back at that hearing.

"That petty bastard... All the things he did just to make her suffer..." he muttered, clenching a fist.

"Like I'm going to just stand here... and let that probehole walk..."

Seeing the anger in Val's voice and knowing how he can be, Zascent would put a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Calm down. We can't do anything reckless. Especially in the middle of the High Council building." Zascent reassured.

"We just barely managed to convince them to let you take her in as is. But we're not out of the woods yet. This is an opportunity that needs to be taken advantage of to the fullest."

"If you really want to save Zu... I urge you to not jeopardize it."

"But..." Val uttered.

"We'll ask for what the cyber detectives found and try again later. With what we know, evidence could be gathered from that. That will be how we get him." Zascent said.

"But for now... we just have to make it out of this."

Val's shoulders slumped, accepting Zascent's words. He was right, that was the smartest way to go about this. His main priority was to get Zu out of here so that she could have a chance to live a somewhat normal life. If he did something stupid now, then the entire system would come down on him. He couldn't take any chances.

Val would more at ease as he voiced his thoughts. "Even without what happened between me and her... this was probably going to happen anyway."

"I was already iffy on the whole idea of using a living being as a "weapon", as they call it. But knowing about Alchemist... and knowing what the courts want to do..."

"Knowing the truth of it all... I wasn't just about to sit there and let it slide."

"This banished species thing is more messed up than I thought." he said, glancing to the side.

"Some new guidelines may need to be in order." Zascent said. "There are many instances where it is justified, however. Not everything on that list could have a case like this one. While the Zanziko wield high intelligence and emotions, many species on there operate entirely on instinct and are truly dangerous."

"Whether they can be removed from that list is a different story, however. If they are to be let back into our world, then they surely must all be subject to the exact same standards, rules, and consequences that everyone in intergalactic society share. Only then, can I see that being a possibility."

"What the Quadon League would make of any of this, I am not sure. You said she wanted to join the Star Patrol, right?"

"When I asked her about it, yeah. I didn't even fully explain it to her at that point." Val recalled.

"Then I suppose that will be when that is bought forward. Though, I doubt just one occurence will change everyones minds so easily. We'll see what happens, I suppose." Zascent said.

"Now, come with me. We still have work to do."

"Huh? I thought we were done." Val questioned.

"This may be unprecedented, but that doesn't mean that there isn't remaining paperwork to be filled out and signed." Zascent reminded, walking down the corridor.

"What? Paperwork? Gah, I hate paperwork!" Val whined, following him with a pouty look on his face. "Can't you do it?"

"Your signature is needed. I'll do the hard parts." Zascent laid out.

"Fiiiine..." Val said childishly, as they both made the right turn deeper into the High Council building.